'No joy' at prize (From Penarth Times)

'No joy' at prize

A FORMER Sully man became "tense and aggressive" after winning the top prize on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and ordered a TV assistant out of his dressing room, a jury at Southwark Crown Court, in London, heard.

Former show researcher Eve Winstanley was giving evidence against Major Charles Ingram, 39 and his wife Diana, also 39, now of High Street, Easterton, Devizes, Wiltshire.

The couple, and a third defendant, Tecwen Whittock, all deny procuring Chris Tarrant to sign a cheque for £1million on September 10, 2001.

Whittock is alleged to have signalled the correct answers by coughing 19 times to help Major Ingram to the £1million jackpot.

Ms Winstanley said that she remembered the major and his wife hugging each other after the win. Mrs Ingram was in tears, but there was not any real emotion, she said.

She claimed the major looked a little tense, while his wife appeared a little agitated. He then insisted he wanted to be left alone, saying: "Get out".

Ms Winstanley said: "I was shocked. I have never been spoken to by a contestant like that before."

As she left, she heard the window being slammed shut and raised voices, she said. The next time she saw Mrs Ingram she looked "shaken and upset".

The managing director of programme makers Celador, Paul Smith, said that concerns about "irregularities" surrounding the major's appearance on the show were raised at an early stage.

After receiving a call from one of Celador's lawyers, he studied the footage of the show several times. The police were called in the next day and the cheque was stopped.

Major Ingram was told the news over the telephone, and was "very surprised, but very polite".

Mr Smith agreed that a programme was being made chronicling the events, which could boost flagging ratings, down from 19 million to seven to eight million.

Miss Sonia Woodley, QC, for Major Ingram, suggested that Celador would benefit from the case as it was making a documentary about it.

"If the programme is broadcast, I'm sure there would be a curiosity value," said Mr Smith. The trial also heard that a week after being told his winning cheque had been stopped, Major Ingram instructed solicitors to begin civil proceedings against Celador to recover the money.

The proceedings have been stayed until the end of the trial.

The trial continues.